Engine starting device



E. VOLLENWEIDER ENGINE STARTING DEVICE June 2,; 1942.

.Filed April 1, 1940 WI -I J INV EN TOR. E. Vollenweider 3%. A TTORNEYPatented June 2, 1942 a pairs ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Emil Vollcnweider,Sacramento, Calif.

Application April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,183

Claims.

This invention relates in general to an engine starting device, and inparticular the invention is directed to a unique device for startingmodel or midget gas engines of the type embodied in model airplanes orthe like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a modelengine starting device arranged to be held and actuated with one hand;

actuationof the device being accomplished with a manual movementcorrespondingto the manipulation of a pair of scissors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which includes a socket member adapted to engage the propellersecuring nut on the outer end of the crankshaft of a model airplaneengine; said socket having an overrunning clutch associated threwithwhereby when the engine begins to run there is no possibility of injuryto the person holding the device.

- A further object of the invention is to produce a simple andinexpensive device and yet one in section-on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference onthe-drawing, the device comprises a substantially straight supportinglever bar I having a bell crank type lever 2 pivoted at its fulcrum, asat 3, on the bar I intermediate its ends; the arms of the bell crankdiverging from bar I, and said bell crank being movable about pivot. 3in the plane of bar I.

[ At one end of the device the ends of bar I and lever 2 are formed withfinger grips 4 and 5,v

which correspond to the grips on a pair of scissors.

is formed with an enlarged, longitudinally extending boss 6 having ashaft 1 rotatably journaled therein; a pinion '8 being fixed on theshaft at the outer end of the boss, while securing nuts 9 are threadedon the other or inner end of said boss.

At the opposite end of the device, the bar l A work engaging head in theform of an outwardly opening socket unit II] is secured on the shaft 1beyond pinion B, and such socket unit includes a ball type overrunningclutch indicated generally at H and as shown fully in Fig. 3; suchclutch being of well known construction, and therefore is not describedin detail in this specification. The clutch is arranged so that whensocket ID is engaged with the propeller securing nut I2 on the end ofthe crankshaft C of a model engine, the socket is driven when the grips4 and 5 arebrought together; said clutch overrunning when the latter isdriven by the engine but not'when rotated by shaft 1.

The shaft 1 has rotation imparted thereto in the proper directionthrough the medium of an arcuate and segmental rack gear I3 which mesheswith pinion 8, and is fixed at one end on the outer end of the adjacentarm of lever Z; the arc of this segmental gear having its axiscoincident with pivot 3. This rack gear I3 is held in mesh with pinion 8by means of a fianged idler roller I4 carried by a pin l5 which isparallel to shaft 1 and supported by a lateral finger l5 projecting frombar I.

In use, the device is grasped with the fingers in grips 4 and 5 in thesame manner as a pair of scissors and socket H! is engaged with'nu't 12on the engine crankshaft. The grips 4 and 5 are then separated andbrought together quickly,

causing the rack gear to run by the pinion and rotate shaft 1 and socketl0. Due to the rela-- tively small size of the pinion, the revolvingspeed imparted'to the socket is relatively high, which is desirable toassure easy'and positive starting of the engine.

While primarily adapted for use as a starter for model engines, it isobvious that the device may be employed for other uses.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that Ihaveproduced such as device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the de -1. An engine starting device comprising a pair 7of levers pivoted together intermediate their ends, finger grips onone'end of the levers, a longitudinal boss formed on the other end ofone lever, a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally out from saidboss, a pinion fixed on the shaft, an outwardly opening socket member onthe shaft beyond the pinion, and an arcuate segmental rack gear fixed onthe adjacent end of the other lever and meshing with said pinion.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said other lever is a bell crankwhose arms diverge relative to the one lever from the pivot point of thelevers.

3. An engine starting device comprising a pair of levers pivotedtogether intermediate their ends, finger grips on one end of the levers,a longitudinal boss formed on the otherend of one lever, a rotatableshaft extending longitudinally out from said boss, a pinion fixed on theshaft, an outwardly opening socket member associated with said shaftbeyond the pinion, an overrunning clutch interposed between the" shaftand said socket member, and an arcuate segmental rack gear fixed on theadjacent end of the other lever and meshing with said pinion.

4. A device as in claim 1 including an idler wheel mounted with said onelever adjacent said pinion and cooperating with said rack gear tomaintain the latter in mesh with said pinion.

5. A starting device for a model engine having a rotary part projectingtherefrom, said device comprising a pair of levers pivoted togetherintermediate their ends and adapted at one end for holding engagement bythe fingers of one hand, a member at the other end of one lever forreleasable driving engagement with said rotary engine part, meansturnably mounting themember on said lever for rotation about an axissubstantially parallel to the one lever and means between the otherlever and the member to rotate the latter upon relative approachingmovement of said one end of the levers.

EMIL VOLLENWEIDER.

